What Is Considered "chronic"?

[JuanP]

I am trying to connect my current condition of severe neck pain back 16 years to my time in service. I have medical records that go back 11 years (am missing the first 6 because of a lack of insurance) ?

I have 5 instances of Sick Call for back and / or neck pain over a period of a year and a half while in the Navy. Is this considered to be "Chronic"?

[carlie]

So is it ok to take my medical records into my current doctor (at the VA) and have her browse through and make that determination?

I mean, do they do that? Is this how these things are done?

Some doctor's will look thru your records but most won't.

[carlie]

Ok, CFR Title 38 3.303 is very helpful. Thank you, I wasn't aware that the CFR and the eCFR were different. I appreciate the direction.

Juan,

Say what ? ? ?

There is not a difference in 38 CFR and the eCFR.

[JuanP]

Juan,

Say what ? ? ?

There is not a difference in 38 CFR and the eCFR.

Ok, um, then I'm all messed up.

This is what I've been referencing :

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?type=simple;c=ecfr;cc=ecfr;sid=274ba89a152f0dc1aec061e8f280434e;idno=38;region=DIV1;q1=PART%203;rgn=div5;view=text;node=38%3A1.0.1.1.4

[JuanP]

Ahhhh, yeah, I'm an idiot. I didn't get past the 3.3, so I didn't scroll all the way down to 3.303. Sorry

[JuanP]

I have found my question answered already:

http://www.hadit.com/forums/index.php?/topic/35797-medical-statements-and-completion-of-forms-by-va-health-care-providers/

I was not making a distinction between the VBA and the VHA.

[Vync]

http://www4.va.gov/vetapp10/files1/1002995.txt

This BVA decision may be helpful in showing that it is possible to overturn an RO denial because of a treatment gap of years. But note that the Vet had an x-ray 20 months after he got out which showed narrowing of a disc cavity.

Although a strongly worded IMO would be more desirable, this Vet actually succeeded by fighting the system.